Hold Back the River (James Bay song)

"Hold Back the River" is a song by English singer-songwriter James Bay. It was released in the United Kingdom on 17 November 2014 by Republic Records as the second single from Bay's first studio album Chaos and the Calm (2014). The song was written by the Ivor Novello award winner Iain Archer with Bay and produced by Jacquire King. The song peaked at number 2 on the UK Singles Chart. It was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Song. The song was used in the movie, The Space Between Us.

"Hold Back the River"
Single by James Bay
from the album Chaos and the Calm and the EP Hold Back the River
B-side	"Wait in Line" (CD)
Released	17 November 2014
Recorded	2013–2014
Studio	Blackbird (Nashville, Tennessee)
Genre	Indie rock folk rock
Length	3:58
Label	Republic
Songwriter(s)	Iain Archer James Bay
Producer(s)	Jacquire King
James Bay singles chronology
"Let It Go" (2014) "Hold Back the River" (2014) "Scars" (2014)

Music video

A music video to accompany the release of "Hold Back the River" was first released onto YouTube on 24 October 2014 at a total length of four minutes and six seconds.^[1]

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2014–2015) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[2] 4 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[3] 4 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[4] 7 Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[5] 3 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[6] 56 Colombia (National-Report Top Rock)[7] 2 Czech Republic (Rádio – Top 100)[8] 50 Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[9] 19 Denmark (Tracklisten)[10] 20 Euro Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[11] 2 France (SNEP)[12] 72 Germany (GfK)[13] 4 Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[14] 27 Hungary (Single Top 40)[15] 32 Ireland (IRMA)[16] 1 Italy (FIMI)[17] 7 Japan (Japan Hot 100)[18] 76 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[19] 14 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[20] 12 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[21] 8 Norway (VG-lista)[22] 24 Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[23] 16 Scotland (OCC)[24] 2 Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[25] 14 Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[26] 16 Slovenia (SloTop50)[27] 5 Spain (PROMUSICAE)[28] 25 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[29] 17 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[30] 4 UK Singles (OCC)[31] 2 US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[32] 1 US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[33] 2 US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[34] 16 US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[35] 9 US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[36] 8 US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[37] 13

Year-end charts Chart (2015) Position Australia (ARIA)[38] 19 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[39] 35 Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[40] 44 France (SNEP)[41] 194 Germany (Official German Charts)[42] 33 Italy (FIMI)[43] 43 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[44] 44 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[45] 33 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[46] 24 Slovenia (SloTop50)[47] 9 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[48] 45 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[49] 32 UK Singles (OCC)[50] 8 US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[51] 19 Decade-end charts Chart (2010–2019) Position UK Singles (OCC)[52] 64

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[53]	3× Platinum	210,000‡
Austria (IFPI Austria)[54]	Gold	15,000*
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[55]	2× Platinum	120,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[56]	4× Platinum	320,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[57]	2× Platinum	180,000‡
Germany (BVMI)[58]	Platinum	600,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[59]	3× Platinum	150,000‡
Netherlands (NVPI)[60]	2× Platinum	60,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[61]	4× Platinum	120,000‡
Norway (IFPI Norway)[62]	2× Platinum	20,000‡
Portugal (AFP)[63]	Gold	10,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[64]	Gold	30,000‡
Sweden (GLF)[65]	3× Platinum	120,000‡
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[66]	Gold	15,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[67]	4× Platinum	2,400,000‡
United States (RIAA)[68]	Platinum	1,000,000‡
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label
United Kingdom	17 November 2014[69]	Digital download	Republic
United States	3 March 2015[70]	Modern rock radio